Typewriting machine



"May 7,- 1929.

TYPEWRITI-NG MACHINE 7 Filed Jan. 27, 1927 \WITNESEES v QQ Z Y INVENTORATTORNEY E. E. BARNEY 1, 1 3

Patented May 7, 1929?.

UNITED stares v v 1,712,193 earsnr OFFICE.

EoWIN E. BARNEY, on NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YoaK, ASSIGNOR'TQ REMINGTON TYPE-WRITER COMPANY, or ILION, NEW YORK, A oonronarroNor' NEW YORK.

TyPEwnrrINe MACHINE.

Application filed Januaiy 27, 1927. seriaiNo. 163,988.

My invention relates to ribbon mechanism for typewriting machines andhas for its main purpose the provision of means for controlling theribbon spools in relation to their supports and for improvin'gcertain ofthe devices associated with said spools. V

T he invention was particularly designed as an improvement on the ribbonmechanism of the Remington Portable typewriting ma chine, but itsprinciples may readily be adapted to other styles of writing machines.In

said Remington Portable machine the ribbon spools are horizontallydisposed being mounted on vertical. pins or spindles, the ribbon be ingadapted to be fed from one spool to the other by mechanism for turningthe spools. Associated with the ribbon feeding mechanism isribbonreversing mechanism whereby the direction of ribbon feed may bereversed, saidreversing mechanism comprising a pair of so-called pivotedtrailers or followers,

each follower having a portion cooperative,

with the plies of ribbon wound on its spool in such a way that when theribbon on one spool has been exhausted the associate follower is movedto a position where its actuating pin will become effective to move theribbon drivshaft longitudinally to change gears and disconnect theassociate spool, at the same time connecting the other spool with thedriving shaft all in a manner well understood. Troublehas heretoforearisen from the enga ement oft-he follower with the ribbon plies duringa removal and a, replacement of the spool from its support and mypresent invention has for one of its objects to avoid such trouble, thisbeing done by providing the follower with a special finger-piece whichin the present instance serves several purposes.v In

the first place the fingenpiece, being disposed I so as normally todirectly overlie the associate spool, Wlll prevent an upward movement ofdisplacement of the spoolunder normal I conditions, it being necessaryto swing the handle and with it the followerto a position outside of thespool before the latter can be I removed. Likewise in replacing thespool it will be necessary to swing the finger-piece out of the way andwith it, of course, the follower in order to clear the path for thespool. The finger-piece further serves as a pointer or visual indicatorfor the follower.

I To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, myinvention consists in the features of construction, combinations ofshowing a ribbon spool, its mounting and associate parts. i Fig. 2 is aperspective view showing one of my improved ribboncontrolling member orfollower devices. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view the ribbon spoolsand the ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a detachable. support for the ribboncontrolling member or follower. i Fig. 5 is a side view of a ribbonspoolshow. ing the ribbon attaching devices applied thereto; and v v Fig. 6is a perspective view ofv a ribbon attaching device. I

The Remington Portable typewriting machine to which my invention isshown asapplied is provided with a key-controlledshiftable frame whichcomprises side plates or portions, the left-hand side plate only beingshown herein (Fig. 1) and designated by the n'tuneral 1. Integral withthe side plate 1 isan angularly bent-0E portion or car 2 which showing 1provides a support for a cylindrical bearing,

member or block3 from-which rises a poster bloclr 3 and rotatable on thepin 4 is a circular plate 5 rigid w th which is a crown gear" wheel 6,the wheel being disposed below the plate 5 andi'ts teeth being adaptedto mesh adapt'edto be rotated automatically when the printing keys areactuated, the means for turningv the shaft comprising a ratchet wheel 9fixed thereto at about its middle as. shown .bearing5pin4. Supported onthe cylindrical i forth endwise for this purpose. Theshaft 8 is g inFig. 3. Cooperative withthe ratchet wheel is a driving pawl 10 actuatedfrom the printing keys and a holding pawl 11. The shaft 8 may be movedendwise by hand and is also rotatable by hand, knurled finger buttons,12 7

being secured at the opposite ends of said shaft for these purposes.Integralwith the finger buttons 12 are double cam members 13 which arecomprised in the ribbon reversing mechanism. The pawls 10 and 11 are ofsufficient width to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 9 in bothpositionsto which it may be shifted when the shaft 8 is moved cndwise.

Each of the circular plates 5 provides a support for a detachable ribbonspool or rotary carrier, said spool as best shown in 1g. 5 comprisingessentially a core or hub portion 14; and parallel circular heads orflanges 15 secured at opposite ends of the core or'hub. The core isformed with a circular bore to fit over the associate pin or bearingpost 4. 7 Projecting downward from the lower flange are twodiametrically opposite lugs or tits 16 .which are adapted to engage in aslot ordepression formed in the underlying plate 5, thereby connectingthe spool with the plate so that'when the plate and its gear 6 arerotated the spool or ribbon carrier will'likewise be rotated, the pin 4providing a support and bearing for the spool.

The ribbon .1? is attached at its opposite 7 ends to the ribbon spools14, 15 and is adapted to be wound on said spools alternately. There isprovided preferably an improved and simplified means of attaching theribbon at its end portions to the spool cores. Said means comprisesspring clips one of which is, shown detached in Fig. 6 and numbered18.The clip is made of a single piece of sheet metal bent or formed in thearc of the'circle and of such size as to fitover and embrace the corepiece 14 between the spool flanges 15. The clip fits somewhat morethanhalfway around the core-so that when it has f beensprunglnto placethereon it will 'engage or clip the core by reason oflits inherentfriction and some force isnecessary to detach 1t, therebyguardingag'ainst accidental displacement. Preferably a point or arrow191's struck out of the body of the clip and bentso as to stand slightlyaway there-- from. This point or arrow is thrust through the end portionof the ribbon, thereby attaching it to the clip so that when the clip isapplied to the core the ribbon is thereby attachedto the ribbon spooland when the spool is turned the ribbon will be wound on the core piecebetween the spool flanges or heads.

' It will be understood that when the print- .ing keys are actuatedtheir motion will be be engaged with its associate gear wheel 6, so thatthe turning movement of the shaft is transmitted to the engaged gearwheel and circular plate 5, and thence to the ribbon spool mounted onsaid plate, the spool being turned 7 stroke, but these mechanisms are ofthe usual construction found in the Remington Portable typewriter.

ri Y ihe ribbon reversing mechanism in addition to the double cammembers 13 comprises dev ces cooperating with said members to shift thedriving shaft 8 automatically back and forth as the ribbon spools'arealternately emptied and filled. The cooperating devices aforesaid are inthe form of ribbon controlling members each designated as a whole by thereference numeral 20. As clear ly shown iii-Fig. 2', the member 20 1sprefer ably formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent to the requiredshape. Said member comprises three horizontally disposed portions 21, 22and 23 connected by vertical portions 24 and 25. Bent off from thecrossportion 22 is an angular part or arm 26 terminating in a verticalextension 27,tlie parts 26, 27 con stituting a socalled trailei"- orfollower proper that is adapted to contact directlywith the plies ofribbon wound on the associate ribbon spool and bearing inwardly againstthe outermost ply. Suitably secured to the upright portion 25 is ahorizontal pointed pin 28 which is adapted to cooperate directly withthe associate double cam 13.

As thus far described the ribbon controllinginember or follower 20generally resembles the one 'l'ieretofore employed. In order-to carryout the purposes of the inventionthorc has been added a special fingerpiece or handle 29 which projects horizontally from the up perinosthorizontal portion 21 and is sub-' 7 stantially parallel with the arm26.

. The three parallel horizontal portions 22 and 23 are formed with roundbearing openings 30 in registerwith each other,

whereby the follower is adapted to lit on an upright post or pin 31having a head and fitted into and secured at its foot in an angu larbracket as most clearly shown inlFig.

4. The bracket 33 is provided with an angu- 1 K iar upright extension54: which is formed with a hole 35 to receive the shaft 8. The fol lower20 issccured in place on the bearing post or pin 31 before'said pin isassembled with the bracket 33, so that the bracket and follower aredetachable from and replaceable on the machine together. The head 32prevents upward displacement of thefollower while allowing it to turnfreely on the pin. The base or foot portion of the bracket 33 is formedwith elongated holes or slots indicated at 36, which slots receiveheaded screws 37 threaded into the associate ear or shelflike part 2,whereby the bracket is adjustably secured to said ear. A coiled drawspring 38 is connected at one end to the upright portion 25 of thefollower, said spring at its opposite end being hooked through .a holeinthe upright portion 8 1; of the bracket. The spring tends constantly tohold the follower head or conta t 27 in contact with the ribbon plieswound on the associate spool. T he part 29'of the follower overlies theupper flange 15 of the associate spool, under all normal conditions, andis so disposed vertically that while out of immediate contact with saidflange, it will nevertheless be engaged by the flange on a very slightupward movement of the spool along its support or spindle i. This willbe clearly understood from a consideration of Figs. 1 and From theseviews it will be apparent that not only will the part 29 prevent upwarddisplace ment of the spool but it also acts as a visual.

indicator of the posit-ion of the follower and especially of therelationship of the follower head with the spool axis and flanges. As iswell understood, the spring pressed follower swings in on its axis orpivot :31 as the quantity or number of plies of ribbon wound on the seel lessens, the result of this pivotal swinging icing that the pin oractuator 28 is brought nearer and nearer to'the path of nioven'ient ofthe associate cam member 13. The parts are so related that when the endportion of the ribbon is reached the actuating pin 28 will engage withthe associate'cam an 'as a result will as therotary n'iovement of heshaft- 8 continues force said shaft to move also longitudinally.Completion of the cndwise movement is achieved as is well understood andeffects an engagement of the underlying driving pinion 7 with theassociate gear wheel 6, the result being that the pay-off or idle spoolwill be connected with the driving mechanism to be positively driven inreversed direction-when the printing keys are actuated so as to wind theribbon thereon. Fig. 3 shows the position of the partsimmediatcly afterthe shaft 8 has been shifted cndwise from left to right, thusdisconnecting from the left-hand spool and connecting with theright-hand spool.

it will be understood that the device or part 29 must be swung outwardin order to of the spoolso that said spool is free to be lifted from themachine. Lik wise will be apparent that, with the spool off, it will beimpossible to reapply it to its post or bearing, or to apply a new spoolthereto, without first swinging the part 29 out of the way of the spoolflange, this movement, of course, also swinging the follower 26, 27itself out of the way. In other words, the part 29 will operatc tosafeguard the follower so that it will be impossible, as sometimes hashappened heretofore particularly when a one-flange spool was employed,to improperly engage with theribbon plies or to be distorted or bent outof place by the ribbon plies or by the spool itself should undue forcebe used by the operator. It will be appreciated that distortion of thefollower results in improper timing of or disablement of the ribbonreversingmechanism, and that it is consequently of primary importance toprevent such distortion. Such prevention is a result which i the presentinvention achieves. It will be seen then that the invention providesmeans which is most conveniently located for serving as a handle tomanipulate oradjust the follower 20 and which further serve'sas asafeguarding device to prevent improper handling of the'spool andfouling of the followcr, as well as serving to indicate to the eye theposition of the follower device.

The downward extension 21. may also be used as a finger-piece for thefollower, if desired. I

Various changes may be made without departing from my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. 111a typewriting machine,'the combination of a ribbon spool, a supportwhich detachably receivessaidribbon spool, a ribbon I 'to render saidmeans ineffective.

3. In a typewriting nachine, the combination of a ribbon spool, asupport therefor, a ribbon controlling member directly engaging theribbonon the spool, and a visual indica-, tor rigid with said member andoverlying the spool, said indicator showing. when said 'member is in andout of working position.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon spool, asupport therefor, a, ribbon controlling member directly engaging theribbon on the spool, and a visual indicator rigid with said. member andshowing the position of said member, said indicator overlying said spooland also serving as a finger. piece for manipulating said member.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion of a rotary ribboncarrier, a support on which the carrier is adapted to rotate, a ribboncontrolling member cooperative directly with the ribbon on said carrier,and a visual indicator rigid with said member and overlying saidcarrier, said indicator indicating the relationship of said memberribbon. V 6.v In a typewriting machine, the combination of ahorizontally disposed ribbon spool, a verticalspindle therefor, ribbonmechanism including a ribbon controlling member cooperative with theribbon on said spool, and a visual indicator adapted to overlie saidspool and indicate the relationship of said member with the ribbon onsaid spool, said indicator also serving to preventthe spool from beinglifted from its support and from being replaced on its supportwhen saidmember is 'in working position, said indicator being movable at willwithout disturbing the ribbon mechanism as a whole to allow the spool tobe removed.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion of a horizontally disposedribbon spool, a vertical support therefor, a pivoted ribboncontrollingmember cooperative with the rib bon on said spool, and a finger piece onsaid member effective to swing it into and out of working position, saidfinger piece being adapted'to overlie said spool to prevent its beinglifted on said support.

8.' In a typewriting machine, the combina tion of a ribbon spoolcomprising a core piece and parallel flanges, ribbon reversing devicescomprising a pivotedmember providing apart disposed within said flangesand adapted constantly to contact directly with the ribbon Wound on saidcore piece, said pivwith the 1 oted member being also provided with afinger piece for moving it into and out of working position, said fingerpiece lying outside of and being adapted to contact with a flangethereof, said finger piece serving as a visual indicator to show therelationship of said part to the spool core and also serving as apreventive means for preventing displacement of the spool on itssupport. 7

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pair of ribbon spoolseach comprising a core and parallel flanges, pins onwhich said spoolsare rotatable, ribbon feeding devices, ribbon reversing devicescomprising a pair of pivoted followers adapted to co -oper ate with theplies of ribbon'wound on the spools between their flanges, and fingerpieces formanipulating said followers, said finger pieces overlying saidspools, preventing their being lifted on their pins and also preventingtheir being applied to saidpins' except when their associate followersare out of working positions.

10. 111 a typewriting machine, the combination of a. ribbon spoolcomprising a. core and parallel flanges, a support on which said spoolis detachably mounted, ribbon reversing mechanism "comprising a device.having a follower arm disposed between the two flanges and coo 'ierativewith the ribbon wound on said spool core, and a finger piece tion, saidfinger piece, being substantially 'iarallel. with said follower arm andindicating the position thereof.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, this 26th day of January, A. D. 1927. iEDWIN E. BARNEY.

